If you will be in or near North Dakota this month, keep a watch out for some special migrants. In October, a handful of owls will begin migrating through. While owls can often be elusive to birders, we have tips and tricks to help you keep an eye (and an ear!) out for these stealthy, swift-flying strigiform splendors.

One species that may be familiar to you is the Snowy Owl. Weighing in at about four pounds, it is the heaviest owl in North America, twice as heavy as North America’s tallest owl, the Great Gray Owl. This large weight can be owed, in part, to its thick, massive feathers, which are necessary to keep warm in snowy, Arctic environments. Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls are most active during the day, and will spend the day hunting in broad, treeless expanses of snow-coated land. In such flat hunting grounds, they are likely to perch on slightly raised areas like fence posts, telephone poles, or even hills. However, these owls are readily able to hunt from a perch on the snowy ground, so look for unusual lumps in the landscape that may be a Snowy Owl blending into the tundra. If a mostly white lump turns out to be a Snowy Owl, it is most likely a male (just like the owl that played Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies!) If it is white with dark barring all over save for its face, it is most likely a female or an immature male.

Another owl that is often disguised in camouflage is the Eastern Screech Owl. This owl can be found year-round in North Dakota but will be more abundant this month. This small owl is about the size of a pint glass, and commonly found in most types of woods, particularly by sources of water. During the day, the Eastern Screech Owl roosts in tree holes or nest boxes. They can be tough to spot because they often keep their bright yellow eyes shut and press their bodies against the tree to blend their feathers into the pattern of the tree bark. Their plumage can be one of two morphs: either mostly gray or mostly rufous. Both forms have ear tufts and a complex pattern of banding and spots that gives these owls their convincing camouflage. At night, you are even less likely to see one, but you may recognize the Eastern Screech Owl by its series of trills and whinnies.

If, instead, you hear a flute-like, even-metered “too-too-too,” echoing through the night, you may have found yourself a Northern Saw-whet Owl. This is a very nocturnal, small owl no bigger than a pint glass. As such, they typically roost during the day in dense coniferous forests. But no worries, they generally perch at just-above eye-level and near the trunk of a tree. While they may be difficult to see at first glance, birders in active search of a Northern Saw-whet Owl will look for a whitish facial disk and a distinct white eyebrow in the shape of a V between the eyes.

If you’re struggling to find any of these owls, it may be more helpful to look around for other agitated birds! Mobs of songbirds may aggressively swoop and annoy owls they find during the day to encourage it to leave the area. No wonder they call it “strength in numbers!”

Have you ever seen or heard one of these owls before? What about any owls at all? Let us know or send us pics through our contact page and keep up with us for more migration alerts!

Mind the Migration! Alert for the Month of October